Chessy
How to Play Against the London System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 — the London — is one of the most common setups you'll face as Black at club level. White builds a solid, low-theory structure; your job is to find a concrete plan that creates real problems. Stockfish rates it near equality (+0.08 for White), and the data shows White currently scores better (51.3%) than Black (44.3%) across 9 million games. Try your approach against the engine below.
Practice playing against the London System
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Create a free account →What the London is trying to do
The London is a system opening: White places the bishop on f4, knight on f3, and pawns on d4/e3, then develops safely regardless of what Black plays. The goal isn't to refute Black — it's to reach a solid middlegame with no weaknesses and minimal theory. This makes it popular at club level and frustrating to face without a prepared plan. The near-zero eval (+0.08) means White is not winning anything for free — but the scoreboard (51.3% White) shows it works in practice.
Black's main responses
Since you are playing Black, lower white_pct is better for you:
- 3...c5 — challenges the center directly; White scores only 46.9% here — the lowest of any listed response and Stockfish's recommendation.
- 3...g6 — kingside fianchetto, 49.7% for White.
- 3...Bg4 — pins the knight, 50.8% for White.
- 3...Bf5 — mirrors White's bishop and fights for the f5 square, 50.0% for White.
- 3...Nc6 — develops naturally but lets White score 53.7% — the worst result for Black in the dataset.
- 3...e6 — the most popular move (2.5 million games) but a poor result for Black at 51.4% White scoring.
The move to play
3...c5 is both Stockfish's top recommendation and the move that keeps White's score lowest at 46.9%. The plan is principled — challenge the center immediately before White consolidates with e3 and c3. Black avoids a passive setup and gains real counterplay along the c-file. This is a rare case where the engine's best move and the database's best result for your side fully agree.
Understanding the scoreboard
Overall, White scores 51.3% to Black's 44.3% in the London — a gap that reflects how difficult it is to face the setup without preparation. But that 51.3% drops to 46.9% when Black plays 3...c5, and rises to 53.7% when Black plays 3...Nc6. The spread across Black's options is nearly seven percentage points — which means your move choice matters far more than luck or general skill in this opening.
Results across 9,094,964 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e6 | 2,478,030 | 51.4% |
| Nc6 | 2,194,119 | 53.7% |
| Bf5 | 1,612,082 | 50.0% |
| Bg4 | 791,401 | 50.8% |
| c5 | 726,082 | 46.9% |
| g6 | 493,075 | 49.7% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best response to the London System as Black?
3...c5 — it's Stockfish's recommendation and limits White to just 46.9% in the database, the lowest of any popular Black try. It fights the center directly and gives Black real counterplay.
Why is 3...Nc6 a bad response to the London?
Despite being a natural-looking developing move, 3...Nc6 lets White score 53.7% — 7 points above the 3...c5 response and well above the overall average. Avoid it.
Is the London System easy to counter?
Not without preparation — White scores 51.3% across 9 million Lichess games. But the spread is large: Black can cut that to 46.9% with 3...c5. The opening isn't deeply dangerous, but passive Black play loses noticeably.
Does the London give White a real advantage?
Barely — Stockfish rates it +0.08 for White, essentially equal. The practical edge comes from the solid structure being easier to play without theory. A prepared Black player with 3...c5 can contest the position on equal terms.
How many games feature the London System?
Over 9 million Lichess games have reached the London System position. White wins 51.3%, Black wins 44.3%, with 4.4% draws — based on real rated games.